Hi all! Been a while since I was posting regularly here, so apologies for the drive-by promotion (though I can assure you all that I do still frequently check-in and read through the boards).

For those who don't know – which I imagine is almost all of you, how times have changed... – I've taken a step away from filmmaking in recent years to focus on my career, which is/was journalism, but has now segued into podcasting. I've been producing podcasts professionally for the last few years and started my own company to do so in April (prior to that I ran the podcasting operation of a magazine). I primarily do current affairs, economics, politics, management podcasts, that sort of thing, but I've allowed myself a small indulgence in order to start Establishing Shots, which is a podcast about filmmaking, aimed at indie filmmakers. It's going to feature lots of interviews with people from different parts of the industry, but with the focus aimed at getting practical tips and advice for indie filmmakers.

I've just released the first episode, which was with Chloe Trayner who's the associate director of Open City Documentary Festival. For those who don't know, Open City is probably the UK's second biggest documentary film festival after Sheffield Doc/Fest. Unfortunately, it was quite a short interview and was recorded in a very tricky environment at the back of the festival hall, but there's some interesting stuff in there, particularly about the submissions process and how their curate their content. Would be very grateful for anyone giving it a listen.

How do you get the Russo Brothers to exec produce your £25k indie film?

On the latest episode of the Establishing Shots podcast, I spoke to Jay Alvarez, writer/director of Dizzy Pursuit, about how he got the Avengers directors involved in his film (along with Robert Downey Jr) and all the nuts and bolts of making an indie film on a shoestring budget, and the pitfalls that we all face trying to get our work out there. I hope it's of interest to some of you. If not, I shall weep.

Just released a new episode where I'm speaking to Oscar-winning director Morgan Neville (20 Feet From Stardom, Best of Enemies, Won't You Be My Neighbor?). He was in London for a film festival screening of his latest, smash-hit documentary – Won't You Be My Neighbor? – so we sat down to discuss the film, his work and the role documentaries play in our society.

And if you enjoyed that, please do consider subscribing on iTunes. This whole project is a labour of love – I make my living producing podcasts, but, thus far, not a cent from this and really it's just there to be a resource for indie filmmakers. I try and ask the questions that I want more journalists to ask, and we've got some great episodes coming up from that perspective.

Terrific interview and a great "get," at least from my American perspective

Thanks Mara! Yeah, was delighted to get to speak to him (and get a decent block of time) given that I guess Won't You Be My Neighbor? is probably the current favourite in this year's Best Doc Oscar race, and a crazy box office success to boot. I'm trying to get a mix of indie filmmakers and more high profile guests (I recorded an episode with the cast of the new Coen Bros movie, including Tim Blake Nelson and Zoe Kazan, last week) and go from there. Hopefully it will find its audience in weeks to come...

I checked out your podcast. Great content! You have one more subscriber now :-)

Thank you!

I've just published this week's episode, which is a conversation with the cast of the new Coen Brothers movie, The Ballad of Buster Scruggs. I speak to Tim Blake Nelson and Harry Melling, and then Zoe Kazan and Bill Heck. Both the conversations are a bit mini but I loved asking Zoe, particularly, about the differences/similarities between the Coen Brothers and Nancy Meyers (and she gives a great answer)!

I'm a real Zoe Kazan fan, and I love the look on her face when you asked about Nancy Meyers. The transition to a serious answer when she realized you weren't joking is great - and I'm a big Meyers fan too.

This week's episode is with a British filmmaker called Victoria Mapplebeck, who works in documentaries, and has just produced two acclaimed short documentaries about her son, shot on iPhones, and is currently making a VR documentary about her own treatment for breast cancer.